Grace Wendt

Lodi - Grace M. Wendt, age 96, joined her loved ones in Heaven on August 11, 2018, surrounded by her loving family. With her sharp mind, immense independence and supportive family, she lived in her Lake Wisconsin home until her stroke on August 8, 2018. Grace was born in Dane County, on October 16, 1921 to Carl and Anna Smith. She married Martin Wendt on April 23, 1946 and together raised four children. Grace and Martin raised their family in Morrisonville, WI, but spent a lot of time at their cottage on the Wisconsin River. It was there you’d find them fishing, boating, skiing, playing cards, playing horseshoes and socializing with family and friends. On some occasions, you’d even find Grace making homemade Leftse, goulash or desserts and even canning her own fresh produce. “If you ever left her house hungry, that was your own fault,” says granddaughter, Jamie. Grace LOVED tending to her garden and flowers, pontooning with family, fishing for blue gill, reading, doing crossword puzzles and be-bopping around town with her daughter, Joyce. Feeding and watching her birds also gave her great joy. Protecting the bird food from rabbits and squirrels with her favorite B.B. gun gave everyone great laughs. She was a huge Packer fan and watched them faithfully every week. “She taught me how to ride a bike!” says great-granddaughter, Brianna. “Although, she forgot to teach me how to turn around! She’d be chasing me down the street!” She will be missed immensely by her family and will be remembered for her gentle kindness, beautiful smile, sense of style and great wit. She was a person of faith and a devoted member of Dekorra Lutheran Church. Grace is survived by her loving children, Joyce (Mark) Jiran of Lodi and Dennis Wendt of Arlington; her eight grandchildren: Angie Strander, Chad (Bonnie) Strander, Julie (Brad) Jaeger, Jason (Dianne) Kelnhoffer, Jamie (Rich) Proctor, Dana (Noah) Wendt, Jeff Wendt and Lindsay (James) Wendt; 9 great-grandchildren, Brianna, Lorelei, Rocco, Jacob, Karlee, Alayna, Lilli, Hailee and Evey; two sons-in-law, Terry Haak and Dennis (Chris) Davis; and by several special nephews and a special niece, Cindy. The legacy of Grace’s kind spirit, love of the lake and zest for life, will live on through them.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Martin in 2012; siblings, Glenn Smith, Jeanette Bjeilde, Marion Flugstad and Ronny Smith; two daughters, Judy Davis and Joni Haak; daughter-in-law, Julie Wendt and granddaughter, Jody Sue Davis .

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 16, 2018 at DEKORRA LUTHERAN CHURCH, N3099 Smith Road, Poynette, WI. Visitation will be held from 9 a.m. until the time of service on Thursday at the church. Interment will follow at Norway Grove Cemetery, DeForest.

The family would like to give a special thank you to granddaughter, Angie, for all the love and support of Grandma over the years. She loved all your late night visits, great generosity and all the special treats you’d bring her. Thank you also to UW Hospital of Madison for all the loving care given to Grace and her family and friends.

To view and sign this guestbook, please visit: www.ryanfuneralservice.com.